Fleetwood old boy McGuire hopes to face his old club for Stags

Former Fleetwood star Jamie McGuire is desperately hoping to figure for Mansfield Town against his old club tomorrow, after missing out on that incredible 5-4 defeat at Highbury Stadium in November.

McGuire missed that game through suspension and is now battling to get back into the Mansfield side after a groin injury.

“I had to sit it out with my groin injury and, since I have been back involved, I’ve had to bide my time as the lads have been doing well, which is all that matters,” he said.

“The gaffer has told us the whole squad is going to be needed with so many games coming up.

“This is an important game against Fleetwood. But we are not fearing anyone - we showed that against Southend.

“Fleetwood are a big team and a powerful team. They spent well and are in a good position.

“I remember the game up there well as I was doing the radio that day. We scored four goals against them and there are not many who have done that. But a few silly mistakes cost us a game we could have won.

“We have four of the next five at home and I fancy us. We do well against the bigger teams at home and just need to step it up against the teams who are down there with us.”

McGuire came on as a sub in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Oxford, a scoreline that didn’t tell the story of how much Stags dominated the game and were only outdone on football’s most important statistic – hitting the net.

“It was just one of those days and we have now got to move on to Saturday’s game,” he said.

“We played well and had our chances but never put the ball into the net.

“Oxford played four strikers and they are probably four of the best in the league. But had Sam Clucas or Lee Stevenson put away their chances we are hard to beat.”

McGuire wasted no time in getting stuck in and was shown a yellow card within 18 minutes of joining the action.

“I am too eager for my own good sometimes,” he smiled. “I want to win that tackle or win that header and sometimes I maybe need to calm down a bit.”

McGuire was delighted with the backing of the home fans last time out at the One Call Stadium, when Stags beat Southend United 2-1 two weeks ago.

“At half-time they clapped us off and the fans were right behind us. Then, after we had won, they clapped us off the at the end as well,” he said. “They can make this ground a really intimidating atmosphere. When they back us it really helps on the pitch.

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